Be FLUent – Talk to Your 65+ Patients About Flu Prevention

As a pharmacist you are on the front lines of patient care, and you can play a key role in engaging and informing your older patients about the dangers of flu, as well as the latest strategies for prevention. Be FLUent offers a series of tools and resources to help you lead the way in protecting adults age 65 years and older from flu.

APhA has released a video highlighting the 20th anniversary of APhA’s Pharmacy-based Immunization Certificate Training Program and the important role pharmacists are playing within the immunization neighborhood. The video celebrates the work and contributions of thousands of immunization champions and the impact pharmacists have made on their communities. The video can be used with consumer, healthcare professional and policy-maker audiences.

2016 will mark the 20th Anniversary of APhA's Pharmacy-Based Immunization Certificate Training Program. Since that time, more than 280,000 pharmacists have been trained to administer vaccines, the scope and authority of pharmacists has greatly expanded and pharmacists are recognized as valued members of the immunization neighborhood. These accomplishments have been achieved because of the work and commitment of thousands of pharmacists and other stakeholders to improving the health of patients and the communities served.

We are looking for picture of immunizing pharmacists in action that we can use over the anniversary year to highlight pharmacists' contributions to improving public health. If you have electronic versions of pictures of you or colleagues providing vaccinations / vaccination services we would appreciate your sending them to mrothholz@aphanet.org. When you send the picture(s) please indicate in your e-mail the name of the pharmacist, practice location, and indicate you have the permission of the patient to submit the photo.

Thank you in advance for your assistance and the work you do everyday.

The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) revised the Standards for Adult Immunization Practice. The new Standards call on ALL healthcare professionals – whether they provide vaccinations or not – to take steps to help ensure that their adult patients are fully immunized. Pharmacists have an important role and opportunity to impact adult immunization rates. The Standards were revised because:

With the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of intradermal influenza vaccine, many questions have been asked of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) about additional training for pharmacists. This is a relatively easy vaccine to administer and we have developed a worksheet from material provided by the manufacturer and other resources, as well as providing a video developed by the manufacturer, to explain this process.

FluMist® is administered intranasally; active inhalation (i.e., sniffing) by the patient is not required. Watch this video to learn how to store FluMist in your office, and how to administer it to your eligible patients 2 years to 49 years old.

PharmaJet Injectors

Jet injectors use a unique pressure profile to deliver vaccine as a fine stream of fluid to puncture the skin, and deliver vaccine to the proper tissue depth for intramuscular injection.

Since the first jet injectors were introduced in the 1940s, the technology has evolved to a single-use, sterile, disposable syringe used with a reusable injector. These innovative jet injectors have proven to be a safe and effective method of administration.

Immunization Quick Reference Guide

The Immunization Quick Reference Guide was designed to enable certified immunizing pharmacists and student
pharmacists to stay up-to-date on current vaccinations and guidelines.

This guide is created and updated by APhA’s Academy of Pharmacy Practice & Management (APPM) Immunizing
Pharmacists Special Interest Group (SIG). (Note: APhA Members must login to download this PDF)

Immunization Travel Health Pocket Guide

The Travel Health Pocket Reference was developed by the APhA-APPM Immunizing Pharmacists Special Interest Group (SIG) Travel Committeeto serve as a condensed resource for trained pharmacists providing travel health services to diverse patient populations. (Note: APhA Members must login to download this PDF)

Immunization Champion Awards

APhA’s Tdap Guide for Pharmacists

APhA – with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – created a poster and flier to be displayed in pharmacies and other healthcare settings to deliver the importance of sharing immunization information.